Job Posting: Transportation Surveyor

Department of Water Resources

JC-528548
-
Transportation Surveyor
TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR (CALTRANS)

$6,332.00 - $12,152.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/8/2026

Job Description and Duties

Why Choose Us:  Working for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) means you can practice land surveying in its purest form, because we are the owner and operator of its facilities. Our surveyors are equipped with the most modern tools and software such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), bathymetric boats and SONAR, terrestrial and aerial LiDAR, GNSS receivers, InSAR, GIS, field survey processing and adjustment software and high end processing and mapping computers. Every employee is empowered to make the best choices whether they are researching, measuring or recording our surveys.  Our surveyors work along some of California’s most beautiful reservoirs, rivers and waterways.

 

At DWR you will have the advantage of numerous resources to support your work and your professional growth—including training, organizational memberships, and knowledgeable and professional colleagues all of which collaborate for project success.


We hope you’ll check out the Duties and Desirable Qualifications below and apply for this great career opportunity to join our team and help deliver water to over 26 million Californians, as well as contribute to protecting our environment and species conservation efforts.

 

Duties: Under the direction of the Senior Land Surveyor or Geomatics Branch Chief, the incumbent performs LiDAR point cloud registrations and classification, production and quality assurance of digital terrain models and digital elevation models generated from various point clouds (LiDAR, Structure from Motion, Sonar), field surveys and photogrammetric data sources, and CAD map assembly for production and quality assurance of digital data generated from various photogrammetric, LiDAR and sonar data sources.


In addition, the incumbent must be able to use computerized GIS software and techniques,  plan and process least square adjusted primary horizontal and vertical survey control, hydrographic terrain mapping, construction surveys, test and evaluate photogrammetric software and equipment, use a computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) and mapping systems to make calculations and prepare maps needed to acquire, transfer, and manage real property, right of way, and easements for flood CVFPB and DWR, research and analyze ownership records, title reports, Records of Survey, survey notes, vesting documents, etc., and prepare descriptions, deeds, addenda, and other documents needed to acquire, transfer, and manage real property, rights of way, and easements for CVFPB and DWR and State Water Project facilities.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-528548
Position #(s):
843-260-3029-027
Working Title:
Transportation Surveyor
Classification:
TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR (CALTRANS)
$6,332.00 - $7,922.00 A
$7,428.00 - $9,296.00 B
$8,896.00 - $11,131.00 C
$9,712.00 - $12,152.00 D
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Division of Engineering / Geomatics Branch / Photogrammetry & Computer Mapping, Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department.  Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov/

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

 

Special Requirements

Range D of this classification requires possession of a valid California Land Surveyors License issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

 

Must possess a valid California driver's license when conducting State business that requires driving a vehicle. May be required to travel on public roadways including traveling to remote areas. Travel on short notice and overnight lodging will be required on some trips

 

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is committed to its mission and employees, and we are grounded in our commitment to public safety. Regular and consistent attendance is essential to the successful performance in this position.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 10/8/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Water Resources
Mailing Address
Attn: Division of Human Resources
P.O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Water Resources
Submit in Person
Certification Desk
715 P Street, 7th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 04:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Other - Cover Letter
  • Statement of Qualifications - See Special Instructions for additional details.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Candidates will be evaluated based on their relative ability as demonstrated by the quality and extent of their experience. Therefore, our ideal candidate’s application, resume, and Statement of Qualifications will clearly and concisely address as many of the following desirable qualifications as possible:  The successful candidate has the ability to use photogrammetrist systems to make 3-D models, and perform aerial, ground based, and mobile LiDAR and sonar point cloud registration and classification.  The candidate will prepare project materials from Digital Terran Models (DTM) from various field survey data, photogrammetric mapping data, LiDAR point cloud data, and multibeam sonar data.  The candidate is expected to use computerized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and techniques to develop and maintain GIS databases for use in property rights and land records management.  The incumbent will review photogrammetrically derived mapping products and LiDAR point cloud data, that are compiled into 3-D CAD files, for compliance with the Standards and Symbols for Photogrammetric Mapping.

 

Our ideal candidate is a dependable, detail-oriented professional with exceptional written and verbal communication skills. They excel at managing multiple projects simultaneously, remaining highly organized, meeting deadlines, and staying conscientious of budgets. Technical proficiency in MS Office 365, spreadsheets, and specialized surveying software is required, along with an aptitude for learning new applications. A Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) certificate from the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists is preferred, but not required.

Benefits

Click here to read about some of the benefits available to eligible employees.   

 

Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals.  The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit.  The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings.  For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR.  

Special Instructions

Submit a State Employment Application (STD 678), resume and cover letter, along with a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).  Please reference SAP Position Number 50001223 and Job Control Number JC-528548 in the Explanations section of your application.

 

A SOQ is a separate one-page Arial font, and 12 pt typed document that addresses the candidate’s experience and education as it relates to the specific essential functions of this position outlined in the Job Description.

 

Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to provide requested documents and information may result in automatic disqualification from the hiring process. The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.

 

You are not required to be on an eligibility list at the time you apply for this position.  Simply submit your application today using the provided instructions.  List eligibility will eventually be required, however, prior to hiring. You may qualify for list eligibility at any time prior to hiring by visiting www.calcareers.ca.gov, clicking on Exam/Assessment Search, and searching for the exam based on the classification indicated in the job advertisement.

 

The following basis of eligibility will be considered:  List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, SROA/Surplus, and training and development assignment.

 

Click here to complete DWR’s Recruitment Survey. This survey is for research purpose only and will not affect the application status.

 

Examination/Assessment

For more information about the State hiring process, click here. To learn more about how to get a State job, click here.

 

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.

The Department of Water Resources will be using the examination(s)/assessment(s) listed below:


 

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job